Quantitative basin characterisation to refine debris-flow triggering criteria and processes: an example from the Italian Western Alps

This paper investigates rapid channelized debris flow related to rainfalls in small alpine basins. Its goal is to evaluate and correlate different geological and technical aspects with predisposing and triggering factors that can control these phenomena. The study area is the upper part of the Susa Valley where 12 small basins were selected. For each of them, lithological, geomorphological, climatic and technical information were mapped and analysed. Debris-flow triggering conditions, flow and depositional processes were related to physical characteristics of the basin that can be easily measured and quantified. At least three different groups of basins were found: G1) basins with one event each 4–6 years, characterised by massive or blocky calcareous rocks, G2) basins with more than one event per year that show an abundance of layered or sheared fine-grained rocks and G3) basins with recurrence levels exceeding 10 years, activated only by heavy and prolonged rainfalls, marked by massive or blocky coarse-grained igneous rocks. Furthermore, important morphometric differences were found. These considerations are useful in terms of hazard zonation and risk mitigation.     

A review of jet grouting practice and development

The jet grouting technique was originally initiated in the UK and progressively developed following the needs for larger geometries, ease of implementation, economic rationality, and better mechanical properties. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the development and practice of jet grouting through some fundamental concepts and relevant case studies. Subsequently, a laboratory testing program is performed to investigate the factors affecting the efficacy of the twin grouting system. The principal objective of this study is to define the suitable conditions for the jet grouting efficacy regarding economic rationality as well as quality control. For the first phase, a particular emphasis is placed on the properties of jet columns, site geological conditions, implementation methods, and the justification of each selected treatment option, while the second phase mainly focuses on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. It follows that the mono-fluid jet grouting system presents a valuable flexibility in dealing with complex configurations; yet, the double- and triple-fluid systems are more indicated for cases of mass treatments for which large portions of space must be treated and overlapping is fundamentally important for the reliability of the treatment. Furthermore, it was established that the efficacy of the twin-jet method primarily relies on the proper adequacy of some critical parameters, namely, the cement content, the water-cement ratio, and cement slurry-water glass ratio. In spite of some uncertainties inherently related to the technique, the UCS test represents the quintessential laboratory index for evaluating the mechanical properties of grouted elements, deriving jet grouting efficacy and the economics of jet grouts.     

Permian continental basins in the Southern Alps (Italy) and peri-mediterranean correlations

The Late Carboniferous to Permian continental successions of the Southern Alps can be subdivided into two main tectono-sedimentary Cycles, separated by a marked unconformity sealing a Middle Permian time gap, generally estimated at over 10 Ma. The lower cycle (1), between the Variscan crystalline basement and the Early Permian, is mainly characterised by fluvio-lacustrine and volcanic deposits of calc-alkaline acidic-to-intermediate composition, which range up to a maximum thickness of more than 2,000 m. The upper cycle (2), which is devoid of volcanics, is mostly dominated through the Mid?–Late Permian by alluvial sedimentation which covered the previous basins and the surrounding highs, giving rise to the subaerial Verrucano Lombardo-Val Gardena (Gröden) red-beds, up to about 800 m thick. The palaeontological record from the terrigenous deposits of both the above cycles consists mainly of macro- and microfloras and tetrapod footprints. The age of the continental deposits is widely discussed because of the poor chronological significance of a large number of fossils which do not allow reliable datings; however, some sections are also controlled by radiometric calibrations. The comparison with some selected continental successions in southern Europe allows to determine their evolution and set up correlations. A marked stratigraphic gap shows everywhere between the above-mentioned Cycles 1 and 2. As in the Southern Alps, the gap reaches the greatest extent during the Mid-Permian, near the Illawarra Reversal geomagnetic event (265 Ma). In western Europe, however, such as in Provence and Sardinia, the discussed gap persists upwardly to Late Permian and Early Triassic or slightly younger times, i.e. to the onset of the “Alpine sedimentary Cycle”, even though in northeastern Spain (Iberian Ranges, Balearic Islands) this gap results clearly interrupted by late Guadalupian–Lopingian deposits. The above two major tectonosedimentary cycles reflect, in our view, two main geodynamic events that affected the southern Europe after the Variscan orogenesis: the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian transformation of the Gondwana–Eurasia collisional margin into a diffuse dextral transform margin and the Middle–Late Permian opening of the Neotethys Ocean, with the onset of a generalised extensional tectonic regime and the progressive westward marine ingression.     

Research progress in volcanology in the Neapolitan area, southern Italy: a review and some alternative views

Comprehensive reviews are given for the major volcanic systems that occur in the greater metropolitan area of Naples, southern Italy; Mt. Somma-Vesuvius to the east and the Campi Flegrei volcanic system to the west. Also included in the review is a detailed discussion of the large, highly explosive Campania Volcanic Zone (CVZ) ignimbrite events. These volcanic areas have been studied for more than 100 years, yet significant differences of opinion exist related to fundamental issues of origin and distribution. We present some alternative views related to petrogenesis on some issues based on more than 25 years of research. The relationship between risk assessment and management that impacts the threatened society or culture and the past and ongoing fundamental volcanological research is an essential part of the science. Countries with limited resources may be forced to accept an increased risk but even highly industrialized societies may not be able to completely eliminate deaths from volcanic eruptions. Scientific studies of the hazardous regions should be comprehensive and include reasonable alternative interpretations as this information reveals the level of confidence that must be conveyed to the public officials. The authors review the state of the art of risk assessment and management of the volcanic hazards in the Neapolitan region in light of the review of research.     

Geotechnical characterisation of pyroclastic soils involved in huge flowslides

Landslides of the flow type involving granular geo-materials frequently result in casualties and damage to property because of the long travel distance and the high velocities that these may attain. This was true for the events that took place in Campania Region (Southern Italy) in May 1998, involving pyroclastic soils originating from explosive activities of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano. Although these phenomena have frequently affected various areas of the Campania region over the last few centuries, there were no useful geological and geotechnical references available in the aftermath of the May 1998 events. For this reason Salerno University, which was involved in the scientific management of the emergency, addressed the issue of acquiring data on the geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological features of the slopes where the landslides had taken place. The information acquired made it possible to set up a slope evolution model that is able to interpret, from a geological point of view, past and more recent landslides that had occurred in the same area. As preliminary geotechnical analyses had already validated the above model, more detailed investigations were performed both on the pore pressure regimen of the covers still in place as well as on the physical and mechanical properties of pyroclastic soils, in saturated and unsaturated conditions. The present paper begins by discussing the data acquired during the .rst phase of the studies and then goes on to illustrate the laboratory results so far obtained with the aid of approximate procedures. These help advance our knowledge of pyroclastic soils within a reasonable time frame, thus improving landslide triggering analysis.     

Possibilita' di applicazione dei metodi geoelettrici di prospezione alla registrazione dei movimenti del magma entro i condotti vulcanici

Riassunto Dopo avere accennato all'importanza della registrazione dei movimenti del magma nel condotto vulcanico ai fini scientifici, viene mostrata, attraverso alcune esperienze, la possibilità di una utile registrazione e che tale possibilità può raggiungersi più facilmente mediante l'impiego dei seguenti metodi usati nella prospezione del sottosuolo: metodo di Wenner, metodo della misura diretta della resistenza, metodo induttivo.

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Zusammenfassung Nach Hervorhebung der Wichtigkeit die Bewegungen des Magmas im innern eines Vulkans registrieren zu können, wird gezeigt, auf Grund einiger Experimente, wie diese Registrierung möglich ist und zwar durch die Anwendung der geoelektrischen Bodenforschungs-Verfahren, nähmlich: di Wenner-Methode, die Methode der direkten Widerstands-Messung, Induktions-Verfahren.

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Résumé Après avoir fait allusion à l'importance scientifique de l'enregistrement des mouvements du magna dans le conduit d'un volcan, on démontre, avec quelques expériences, la possibilité d'un enregistrement convenable qu'on peut obtenir d'ailleurs plus aisément en enployant une des méthodes suivantes utilisées dans la prospection du sous-sol: méthode de Wenner, méthode de la mésure directe de la résistance, méthode inductive.

     

Granulite-amphibolite facies metasediments from the Serre (Calabria,Southern Italy): their protoliths and the processes controlling their chemistry

In the northwestern Serre, a near continuous section through the Palaeozoic lower continental crust crops out. This paper deals with granulite facies metasedimentary rocks of this section. Fifty-five chemical analyses (major elements, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Nb and Ba) are given. Chemical data indicate that the original sedimentary sequence was made up of arenites in the lower part and mainly Fe and Mg rich pelites in the upper part. The metapelites experienced anatexis and removal of some melt, whereas the meta-arenites suffered only incipient anatexis and became dehydration granulites. The various rock types display an overall relatively low K/Rb ratio due mainly to the stability of K- and Rb-retaining phases. A weighted mean composition of the fragment of the lower continental crust outcropping in the Serre has been established by integrating the chemical data for metasediments (55 analyses), metabasites (92 analyses) and dioritic and tonalitic gneisses (10 analyses) with the field data. This composition compared to the compositions of the bulk continental crust and of other sections considered as belonging to the lower crust, confirms the hypothesis that (1) the lower crust is heterogeneous, and (2) it is more basic than the continental crust.     

The cassiterite-polymetallic sulfide deposits of Dachang (Guangxi,People's Republic of China)

The Dachang mining district is the second largest producer of Sn in China and an important source of other metals. The known mineralizations can be divided into four groups: (1) cassiterite + Cu-Fe-Pb-Zn sulfides and sulfosalts, (2) Zn-Cu skarn, (3) Sb-W veins and (4) residual and placer concentrations of Sn and Fe oxides. Most orebodies are hosted by Upper Devonian calcareous, marly and quartzitic formations in spatial association with Cretaceous Yanshanian magmatites. A characteristic feature is the occurrence of stratiform, lens-shaped orebodies which appear to represent the root zone of overlying stockwork mineralizations. The metallogeny of the district may be interpreted in terms of an Upper Devonian Sn and polymetallic concentration with subsequent remobilization and, possibly, the introduction of additional elements during the late stages of the Yanshanian magmatism.     

Numerical modelling for clays with internal discontinuity surfaces

A numerical model capable of performing deformation analysis of a medium containing discontinuity surfaces is presented. The discontinuity can be either a crack, which can be open or closed, or a shear band. The model consists of two separate numerical algorithms, which are coupled together by means of the principle of superposition. In particular, an integral equation scheme based on the theory of dislocations is adopted for modelling the discontinuity, while a finite element discretization is used for the continuous medium. In this paper the discontinuity modelling is illustrated in detail, together with the specific formulation of the principle of superposition adopted, and some simple examples of application are presented. The well-known modelling approach based on Fracture Mechanics theory is also briefly discussed. The two models are compared and some advantages and drawbacks of each are pointed out, comments are made regarding their applicability in the specific case of soil mechanics, and conclusions are drawn as regards the conditions under which one or the other is appropriate. Finally, a full-scale example of deformation analysis using the proposed model is presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.